Ever Grace and Eternal Ring become launch titles!

According to From Software, Ever Grace and Eternal Ring will be released no later than March 4, 2000. Barring any unforseen delays or other complications, this essentially indicates that the two biggest role players on the Playstation 2 will launch simultaneously with the debut of Sony's next console.

Eternal Ring is most easily comparable to the King's Field series, as it plays from a first person prespective throughout the game. Since Eternal Ring is a Playstation 2 title, you can expect the graphics to boast amazing effects that range from night giving way to day, and changes in the surrounding climate. As previously mentioned, Eternal Ring's magic system derives from the various rings that can be obtained.

Like most accessories in an RPG, these rings bestow hidden powers unto their wearers. These abilities can be anything from a simple stat change to the learning new spells altogether. Eternal Ring also has the option of mixing up to ten different rings at any given time to help customize your powers. Sure it's a bit of a stretch as far as fashion goes, but it will make for some interesting innovation in managing a character.

From Software's other game, Ever Grace, is more of an Action/RPG than Eternal Ring, which seems to be focused more on exploration. Rather than sporting an engine similar to King's Field, Ever Grace more closely resembles Zelda: The Ocarina of Time. Ever Grace features two different scenarios that follow the adventures of Yuterald and Siena. Since this title's jump from the older PSX to the Playstation 2, the visuals have improved tremendously, but the gameplay has remained mostly intact to previous reports.

To add to the flood of games hitting Japan in March, Atlus is preparing more Strategy RPG fun for all with the announcement of Brigandine 2 for the Playstation in a double disc set. Ascii will also lend a hand by releasing RPG Maker 4 for the Playstation in around the same time frame. Details on RPG Maker 4 are sketchy at best, but it should be more of the same with a few added options on what can be altered, such as the animation for the summon spells in the game.

With From Software taking the Playstation 2 by storm and so many other RPGs coming out around March of next year, you can bet that you will find at least one RPG to play through by next spring.